Erkan, Hanife, and their children Bengisu & Aybuke Beren live in Izmit-Kocaeli City, Turkey.
I have seen many pictures that Erkan has taken. He has a wide range of subjects, but I particularly like his nature pictures. He seems to enjoy this pastime very much.
Written By Duane Duff, Canada, 2006.

Polish Freedom Warriors, Polish Refugees & Polonezkoy, Istanbul-Turkey*******************************************************************Poland until 1700 was a big and powerful country in the middle of Europe. They were staunch Catholics in religion but also they were stick so tightly to the "Freedom of Selecting" their rulers; "Polish Kings". Poland never experienced any Dynasty in her history!But everything started to change with the unpowered kings came to the throne of Poland. At the last in 1772, two European countries of Austria & Prussia and to the East, Russia decided among themselves to partition Poland into three hegemonial sections. After this agreement Poland lost her freedom. For Poles, living in their homeland were so hard, to flee to safer places seemed only solution to live freely.

Ottoman Empire never accepted Poland’s partition among those Imperialist Trio countries of Austria, Prussia and Russia. Ottoman Empire turned a heaven for Poles after Paris, France. During second half of 18th Century, the safer lands of Ottoman Empire especially Istanbul turned second safer places for Polish Refugees and Exiles. Ottomans at those years accepted many Poles including Kazimierz Pulavski…

After 1831 Polish November Uprising Tragedy, many Poles have fled to nearby Paris, France. In Paris their leader was Adam Jerzy Czartoryski (1770-1861). In 1833, between Namik Pasha who was Ottoman Empire Ambassador to Paris and Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, the first meeting was realized for establishing a Polish Colony Settlement for Polish Exiles fled to Paris, within the lands of Ottoman Empire. However this decision was never come into being except General Wojciech Chrzanovvski [1793-1861] has arrived to Istanbul as Army Counselor.

Russia after winning Polish War stared to squeeze her power policy over Poland and Hungary. During 1849 Russia and Austria began suppressing Ottomans to return Hungarian and Polish Freedom Warriors, exiles and refugees to deliver themselves. Ottomans never accepted those suppressions to the point that Ottoman Empires also lost her Great State Power against that Imperial Trio.

At the last, Vlodimiej Titov, Russian Representative to Istanbul gave an ultimatum of if Ottomans not retuned some high lever Polish soldiers such as General Dembinski, Jozef Bem & Vvysocki, it would be regarded as casus belli between Russia & Ottoman Empire. There was only one way to solve this oppression of Russia. Conversion of Exile Poles into Islam, accepting Islam Belief and becoming Muslim and taking Turkish names. So that Ottomans under no any circumstances will deliver or return Muslims to any Christian state or country.

So out of converted Poles, General Jozef Zacharias Bem (1794-1850) was the first high ranked soldier Polishman accepting Islam took the name of Murat Pahsa in 1839 and posted to a rank in the Ottoman Army. So same as happened between Hungarians and Ottomans [Turks], new and never ended friendship started between Poles and Ottomans [Turks]. In 1848 in the mountainous places of Istanbul some vast plot of land was bought Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, leader of the Polish nationals who was granted exile in the Ottoman Empire to escape oppression in the Balkans, from local Monastery clerics and this land was turned a Polish Town in Ottoman Empire. Town was named as Adampol. Adam [for giving honor to Adam Jerzy Czartoryski] and Pol [for honoring Poland]. Shortly meaning “Town of Polish Adam”.

Ever since during 17th century Poles and Turks become acquaintance and made good friend. And Turks & many Muslim Poles or Christian Poles continued this good friendship to today’s times. What I try to add is so just little; to create awareness nationally among Turkish People and internationally all other nations that we, Turks & Poles were good friends and we are decided staunchly that to keep on this friendship for ever.